Last week’s unrelenting cold and rain has retreated, in the
face of the weather that makes autumn. Heavy fog in the valley yesterday
morning smelled simply wonderful. The sun burnt it all away, and the afternoons
this week have been sharp, crisp. I’ve made excuses to be outdoors.
This evening after supper, sitting in the living room,
knitting, a gang of young boys tore up and down between my trailer and Mr.
Next Door, yelling like wild young boys. It reminded me of my childhood, and
children running and yelling in the evenings, between homes on forty foot lots.
The evening news was still on, dusk closing in fast, and
there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and startled several youngsters.
“Can Laura come out?” queried the biggest boy. “I’ll ask,” I replied,
swallowing my amusement over the sweat streaked face and muddy sneakers on my
porch, and Miss Teen America in the next room.
I went to ask and heard she must be in the shower, so I told
my Norman Rockwell worthy young fellow, “No, not now.” In my absence, the rest
of the gang had collapsed on my porch, three on the bench, one on the steps,
one still in the drive. “Who can I say called?” I asked, and I thought I heard
“Jay” among the syllables.
“A young man named, I think, Jay,” called for you, I told
Laura a few minutes later. “J-J?” “I really don’t know.” “Like, twelve years
old!?” “That’s close.”
“We’ll just see about that!” Wet hair snapped behind her,
out the door and down the steps, five feet one of indignation.
An inch of knitting later, she was back, on the sofa, in
charge of the TV controls. “Well, he won’t do that again!” “Do what?” “Ding,
dong, ditch!” “What?” “Ding, dong ditch. Ring the bell and run.”
“But, he asked for you.”
“That’s because you scared ding, dong ditch right out of him
when you answered the door.”
Ha. I love that. And I can see him so clearly. I have a good eye for Norman Rockwell worthy sweat -streaked 12-year-olds. Scared the ding-dong-ditch right out of him. That might be my new favorite phrase.
ReplyDeleteHe needs a little faster ditch in his ding ding! Maybe he wanted to get caught?
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't know it was still done, but of course it is! Some things don't change!
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't know it was still done, but of course it is! Some things don't change!
ReplyDeleteAw, kids. I remember when my nephew and his friends would play this game, lol
ReplyDeleteNicky Nicky Nine Doors. I think it was the same thing. Of course I lived in the middle of nowhere, so I only heard about people playing it. I completely understand your reference to a Norman Rockwell boy. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteHaha, so cute! Sounds like she's a pretty sharp young lady.
ReplyDeleteKids! They have that ability to be so cute when they are causing mischief.
ReplyDeleteHow I love this.
ReplyDeleteAnd bless J-J's heart he hadn't seen scary.
You were quick to get to the door to catch the culprit :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Well done, madam. I remember ding dong ditch, although I never engaged in such antics (she said self righteously while trying to remember if she ever did such a thing).
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I would never have thought of you as a scary ding dong ditch type.
ReplyDeleteoh my, not sure how she knew what it was all about, but she definitely took care of the. Ha.
ReplyDeleteAdolescent boys will always be mischief makers. As much as things change, some things will remain the same.
ReplyDeleteGo Laura !
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteAtta-gal Laura!!! (oh this was such a joy to visulise...) YAM xx
This made me laugh Joanne. Young boys - the same the world over.
ReplyDeleteDo kids your way do the nail put through a rubber sucker and attached to the window with a string to pull it?
ReplyDeleteThat's a new one on me. Let's not let it get around.
DeleteHahahaa, love it!
ReplyDeleteHa! Ha! That is hilarious. I haven't had anyone do that to me since my boys were quite young!!
ReplyDeletewhen you play ding dong ditch you ring the bell and run, not wait to see if someone would answer. unless you were standing right next to the door.
ReplyDeleteHa ha!
ReplyDelete